Programme

The perfect rugby tour

Action shot of two women playing rugby, one in black and blue tackling another in green and black, under bright daylight with sponsorship banners in the background, at the Portugal Rugby Youth Festival.

The passion for rugby is the key reason to take part in this event. More than 300 rugby matches in only two days. A total of eight rugby pitches, where the Lisbon University Stadium is a theatre of dreams for so many young rugby players.

Portugal Rugby Youth Festival's format guarantees all teams competitive matches against international opponents. The tournament will be played according to WR Youth Rugby Rules.

On Saturday, the first day of the competition, every team will play three matches. The play-off groups and finals (2 or 3 games) will be played on Sunday. (The format may be adjusted to make sure every team plays a minimum of 5 games during the weekend.)

Several rugby players having lunch between matches at the Portugal Rugby Youth Festival

Food & Beverage

The Portugal Rugby Youth Festival organization will provide all participants with food and drinks at the accommodation sites. Breakfast and dinner are served buffet style and dinner is always a warm meal.

On competition days, lunch - a full meal adapted to young athletes - will be served at the venue. There's also a food court with multiple options available.

Coaches Corner at the Portugal Rugby Youth Festival

Festival & Entertainment

We encourage a friendly get-together between young people of different nationalities and cultures.

One of our goals with Portugal Rugby Youth Festival is for coaches to have time and opportunity for a good rugby chat across borders. Coaches Corner was a huge success in previous editions and we'll make sure this unique experience is repeated!

Youth rugby players engaged in a game at the Portugal Rugby Youth Festival, with a boy in a blue and white jersey carrying the ball and fending off a tackle from a player in a navy blue uniform.

Local Clubs

We welcome all Portuguese rugby clubs to enter and be part of this fantastic rugby party. Portugal Rugby Youth Festival is the meeting point for Portuguese rugby clubs from North to South of the country. This is a great chance for all local rugby clubs to benefit from playing against international opponents and also to make new friends!

Pre-Tournament Day | Friday

Arrival. The organisation will coordinate and make all travel arrangements for foreign teams arriving by air at the Lisbon International Airport. Teams arriving by bus or train should make their way to the accommodation site on Friday and will be assisted on arrival by their own Team Liaison Officer for the whole period of stay.

Welcome Cocktail. There will be an opening event for all team officials, referees, sponsors and organisation at a local venue.

Tournament Day 1 | Saturday

Group Stage. Matches will start early in the morning. Match schedule will be sent to the team manager before arrival. On match days, shuttle buses will be available to take teams to and from the tournament venue.

Tournament Day 2 | Sunday

Play-offs. Matches will start early in the morning.

Finals. Finals will be played in the afternoon.

Award Ceremony. After the last matches, there will be an awards trophies ceremony for all teams to attend. There will be live music, food and drinks for all teams.

Goodbye. After the party, local teams and other teams staying in Lisbon for two nights will then start their journey back home.

Post-Tournament Day | Monday

Goodbye. Teams staying in Lisbon for three nights will return home by plane or bus.

After breakfast, your team will be taken to the Lisbon International Airport, from where you will fly home after a magnificent weekend of rugby.

Sightseeing. If flight time permits, there's an option to take a trip downtown Lisbon or to the coastal resort of Cascais & Estoril.

Please note: teams wishing to arrive earlier or depart later than the standard schedule can do so by informing us during their online quote requests. Extra nights and extra friendly rugby fixtures with local rugby teams can easily be arranged for you on request.